Minnesota Fire 5, Great Plains 2

The Minnesota Fire scored twice in both the second and third periods to pull away from Great Plains for a 5-2 win on Sunday morning, earning the 12U Western States Invitational championship. 

With both teams perhaps feeling the effects of a full weekend of play and a pre-9:00 a.m. start time, the game began as a sluggish affair. Luke Myers put the Fire up 1-0 less than two minutes into the game, while Gavin McNeil tied the game for Great Plains. 

Jack Stanius scored his first of two goals in the second period, a 2-1 lead extended to 3-1 by Cooper Siegert. Stanius' second goal came early in the third period, followed by Conrad Fondrk's 10th goal of the tournament. Trailing 5-1 late in the third period, Tre Peck netted the second goal for Great Plains for a 5-2 final. 

Fondrk of the Fire finished the tournament with 10 goals and 15 points in five contests, and combined with is performance in all phases of the game was chosen as the tournament's Most Valuable Player.